After last night's Sweet 16 game, I felt compelled to write about my love for IU. If you know me, you know I'm a die-hard fan. I guess you could say I've been a fan since birth...literally!! I can't remember exactly when I first started watching the boys in the candy striped pants, but it could not have been long after I lost my first tooth and began walking.
The first real memory I have of IU basketball was the 1987 championship game. Actually, I remember that entire year. I was obsessed with Steve Alford and anything red or white. Alford was having an autograph session at a store in Evansville, so I begged mom and dad to take me. Sure enough, I'll never forget walking up to meet him as a very nervous 8 year-old, overweight girl with glasses and a muffin top. That moment was one I'll never forget! I cherished the picture of my IU basketball idol forever and probably could find it today if I dug deep enough!! "Hey, Stevie...shoot a three pointer"!! At any rate, IU made it to the final game of the NCAA tourney in 1987 and there was no way I was missing such an important game. I felt really cool because I got to stay up late on a school night. I sat glued to the TV, taking in all the lights, sounds and shots. That's probably where I developed my love for pacing the carpet and yelling at the TV. Surely the team would hear their biggest fan yelling for them!! To a kid, forty minutes of basketball felt like 40 hours! In the end, Keith Smart made the shot that was heard 'round the world and IU had its fifth national championship banner! Way to go, Bobby Knight and his signature red sweater!!
There are obviously many more memories of IU through the years. I knew I wanted to go to school there the minute I decided to use the potty like a big girl. Honestly, it was THE only school to which I applied. I was getting accepted to IU...period. In my opinion, there was no other school. Sure, I could've applied to my mom's alma mater, UE, or dad's alma mater, ISU, and hopefully get some scholarships, but those schools were not even options. My motto? IU OR BUST! Long story short, my four years at IU were some of THE best in my life. I met so many people and still call some of them friends to this day. I loved IU for so many reasons. Besides my love of IU men's basketball, I loved the campus. I was in no way intimidated by it's vastness. IU is one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. The rolling hills of central Indiana, along with the changing seasons, made each year I spent there even more special. If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat. My senior year, I even helped with the football team (which is where I think I developed my love for men in uniform)!! I got to meet some of the players on both the football and basketball teams. It was a fun, four year ride at the greatest school in the world!!
So, it's no secret I've bled "red and white" for most of my 33 year existence. I love the HOOSIERS, in victory and defeat. The last few years haven't been so kind to the program, until a man named Tom Crean was hired to rebuild the team, which some fans expected to happen overnight. The last three years have been a little less than great, that is, until a boy named Cody Zeller made a commitment to play for the CREAM and CRIMSON. People remember where they were when Kennedy was shot, the Challenger exploded or the Twin Towers fell to the ground. I hope you're one of the lucky ones that can say you remember what you were doing when Zeller committed to IU.
WOW...WHAT A SEASON! Top 20 rankings, memorable wins over UK, Ohio State and Michigan St. and watching Crean and Co. bring the program back to basketball prominence once again!! I'm proud to say I'm a HOOSIER fan for life!! After all, it's really not natural (or healthy!!) to bleed blue! :)
HOO HOO HOO HOOSIERS!! Thanks for a memorable season, IU! Your biggest fan is excited for the future! IU basketball is baaaaaaaack! :)
Great story Emily!
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